Squirrels

Have some fun and furry FUN feeding squirrels in your backyard! Hey, we know some of you don't like them, but for the rest of, well, frankly we LOVE squirrels!

Squirrels are fun to watch - a squirrel will feed on its haunches, with the seed held between its paws, and its tail curled over it's back. It will then rotate the seed as it is eaten. Research has shown that squirrels spend most of their time foraging and eating, come rain or shine. Squirrels are usually very trusting, and are brought together by an abundance of food in one place. Since most squirrels do not hibernate feeding should continue year round.

The origin of the English word squirrel lies in the Greek word skiouros ("squirrel"), from skia ("shadow, shade") and oura ("tail"). The squirrel, then, is "the shadow-tail;" that is, the animal that can cool off in the shade made by its own big, bushy tail. A squirrels tail is an important tool. It's used for shade, shelter from rain, balance, and to change direction while falling. A squirrel can use its tail for balancing as it leaps from branch to branch. It can also use its tail as a blanket to wrap around itself in cold weather, as a protection when fighting and as a form of parachute if it falls from a high tree.

Squirrels are intelligent, inquisitive, skillful and handsome. Many of us enjoy squirrels and spend a good deal of money and time keeping them well fed. These adorable furry bandits are responsible for planting many of the trees you now enjoy. Their instinctual habit of gathering nuts and burying them for the winter, is actually to our benefit. Unfortunately, they don't always remember or recover all their buried treasure, so we benefit when a new tree has been planted.

Squirrels will not bury acorns with parasites in them -- their sense of smell is so keen that they recognize these as spoiled and reject them. Squirrels are known for their habit of storing food for the winter. Among humans, to hoard (anything) for future use is to squirrel (it) away. And that, my friends, is the rest of the story.

Squirrels Like to eat! Squirrels can eat their own body weight (approximately 1.5 pounds) every week. However, many people do have problems with their backyard squirrels dominating a bird feeder. The best way to keep your squirrels OFF your bird feeder is to give them their own feeding station. Research has shown that squirrels are very territorial. When fed continuously away from your bird feeders, they will mark the area as their own and protect it from other squirrels entering the area. See more tips on Squirrel Proofing.

You've been forewarned, though, squirrels will visit the easiest feeder for them to get to, or one filled with their favorite food. They LOVE whole peanuts!

Squirrels are social creatures with a home range of about 1-7 acres. Most squirrels mate in midwinter, and have their young about 40 days later. Babies are born naked, blind, and completely dependent. However, within five weeks they will develop fur and their eyes will open. Squirrels will mature in one year, and are fully grown by age two. Their average life span is about 10 years.

Picture of Backyard Squirrel

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